Core-branch Co Ni hydroxysulfides with versatilely regulated electronic and surface structures for superior oxygen evolution electrocatalysis

To satisfy the rapid development of gas-involving electrocatalysis(O2, CO2, N2, etc.), nanostructured electrocatalysts with favorably regulated electronic structure and surface nanostructures are urgently required. Herein, we highlighted a core-branch hydroxysulfide as a significantly enhanced oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst. This hydroxysulfide was facilely fabricated via a versatile interfacial reaction in S2- inorganic solution at room temperature for a designed period. The moderative growth kinetics contributed to the growth of interconnected hydroxysulfide nanosheets with high-sulfur contents on the hydroxide precursor substrates, resulting in a hierarchical nanostructure with multifunctional modifications, including regulated electronic structure, rapid electron highway, excellent accessibility, and facilitated mass transfer. Such synthetic methodology can be generalized and facilely governed by regulating the temperature, concentration, duration, and solvent for targeted nanostructures. Contributed to the favorably regulated electronic structure and surface nanostructure, the as-obtained core-branch Co2NiS2.4(OH)1.2 sample exhibits superior OER performance, with a remarkably low overpotential(279 m V required for 10.0 m A c^m-2), a low Tafel slope(52 m V dec^-1), and a favorable long-term stability. This work not only presents a promising nanostructured hydroxysulfide for excellent OER electrocatalysis, but also shed fresh lights on the further rational development of efficient electrocatalysts.

Amorphous cobalt hydroxysulfide nanosheets with regulated electronic structure for high-performance electrochemical energy storage

Pseudocapacitors with high power density,longterm durability,as well as reliable safety,play a key role in energy conversion and storage.Designing electrode materials combing the features of high specific capacitance,excellent rate performance,and outstanding mechanical stability is still a challenge.Herein,a facile partial sulfurization strategy has been developed to modulate the electronic structure and crystalline texture of cobalt hydroxide nanosheets(denoted as Co(OH)2)at room temperature.The resultant cobalt hydroxysulfide nanosheet(denoted as Co SOH)electrode with abundant low-valence cobalt species and amorphous structure,exhibits a high specific capacitance of 2110 F g^-1at1 A g^-1with an excellent capability retention rate of 92.1%at10 A g^-1,which is much larger than that of Co(OH)2 precursor(916 F g^-1at 1 A g^-1 and 80%retention at 10 A g^-1).Furthermore,the fabricated asymmetric supercapacitor device constructed with Co SOH and active carbon displays a considerable high energy density of 44.9 W h kg^-1at a power density of 400 W kg^-1,and exceptional stability after 8000cycles.